Customer associated profile for accessing audio and video media objects

Abstract

A method is disclosed for transferring a received media object to remote devices in accordance to attributes in a user profile. The profile information additionally determinates the versions of the media object that are available to such remote devices and whether the media object may be stored in such remote devices.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method to record a media comprising the steps of:
 determining a source of a media content being received by a device from a computer network based on at least one received service identifier that contains information identifying attributes of said media content; 
 determining whether said media content is representative of a streamed channel or a media content file based on said at least one received service identifier; 
 determining available resolution formats for said media content based on said at least one received service identifier; and 
 permitting recording of an available resolution format for said media content on said device based on the source of said media content, said available resolution formats for said media content, and whether said media content is representative of a streamed channel or a media content file; wherein said recording is permitted for a first available resolution format and denied for a second available resolution format based on said streamed channel or media content file. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the available resolution format for said media content includes at least one of 5.1 DOLBY and stereo. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus to record a media content comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory containing a set of instructions executed by the processor, the executed set of instructions cause the processor to perform the operations: 
 determining a source of a media content being received by a device based on at least one received service identifier that contains information identifying attributes of said media content; 
 determining whether said media content is representative of a streamed channel or a media content file based on said at least one received service identifier; 
 determining available resolution formats for said media content based on said at least one received service identifier; and 
 permitting recording of an available resolution format for said media content on said device based on the source of said media content, said available resolution formats for said media content, and whether said media content is representative of a streamed channel or a media content file; wherein said recording is permitted for a first available resolution format and denied for a second available resolution format based on said streamed channel or media content file. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the available resolution format for said media content includes at least one of high and low. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the available resolution format for said media content includes at least one of DOLBY and stereo. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said processor in determining source of a media content also determines if a channel of said media content is at least based on the at least one received service identifier. 
     
     
       7. A method to transfer receiving a media content comprising the steps of:
 determining a channel of a media content being received by a device from a computer network based on at least one received service identifier that contains information identifying attributes of said media content; and 
 permitting transfer of said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content; wherein permitting transfer of a first available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device is based on the channel of said media content; and wherein denying transfer of a second available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device is based on the channel of said media content. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the available resolution format for said media content includes at least one of high and low. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said channel of media content also includes: at least information relating to one received service identifier. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein said permitting transfer of said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content comprises:
 permitting transfer of an available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content. 
 
     
     
       11. An apparatus to transfer a media content comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory containing a set of instructions executed by the processor, the executed set of instructions cause the processor to perform the operations: 
 determining a channel of a media content being received by a device from a computer network based on at least one received service identifier that contains information identifying attributes of said media content; and 
 permitting transfer of said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content; wherein permitting transfer of a first available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device is based on the channel of said media content; and wherein denying transfer of a second available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device is based on the channel of said media content. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said permitting transfer of said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content comprises:
 permitting transfer of an available resolution format for said media content from said device to another device based on the channel of said media content.